JP6264511B2 - Cell culture equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a cell culture apparatus that automatically cultures cells.

  A cell culture device that automatically cultures cells is used in the fields of regenerative medicine and drug discovery to cultivate a large amount of cells and to stabilize the quality of the cells. The cultured cells are returned to the human body, for example, in the field of regenerative medicine, and are used for testing drug efficacy and side effects in the field of drug discovery. Therefore, the quality of the cells cultured in the cell culture device is very important.

  As a technique for managing the quality of cells, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses, for each culture process, observing the growth state of cells adhered to the bottom surface of a culture container or the adhesion state of cells to the bottom surface of the culture container using a microscope. Discloses a technique for performing cell quality control and further managing culture operations such as medium exchange and passage in the culture process.

  In recent years, with the development of culture techniques, chemical solutions (culture solutions), and robot technologies, the types of cells that can be cultured in cell culture apparatuses are increasing. However, not all of the cell culture processes have been automated. For example, in the case of culturing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), it is difficult to automate the introduction process of introducing a plurality of genes into somatic cells and the subsequent initial process, and manual work is difficult. is necessary. On the other hand, processes subsequent to these processes (for example, a culture process for maintaining the undifferentiated state of iPS cells) are automated. In such a case, there is a change from manual culture in which the culture operation is performed manually to automatic culture in which the culture operation is performed by the cell culture apparatus.

International Publication No. 2012/127879

  However, in the conventional cell culture apparatus including the technique of Patent Document 1, consideration is given to cell quality control and work management in an automated process, but cell quality when changing from manual culture to automatic culture is considered. Management and work management are not fully considered. As a result, when changing from manual culture to automatic culture, there is a risk that the management information at the time of manual culture is mistakenly transferred to automatic culture.

  An object of the present disclosure is to provide a cell culture device that solves the above-described problems and can accurately take over management information at the time of manual culture to automatic culture when changing from manual culture to automatic culture.

  A cell culture device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an incubator unit, a transport unit, a task setting unit, a management information acquisition unit, and a storage unit. The incubator unit cultivates cells in a culture container. A conveyance part conveys a culture container to an incubator part. The task setting unit sets tasks related to cell culture. The management information acquisition unit acquires management information attached to the culture vessel. The storage unit stores the management information acquired by the management information acquisition unit. The task setting unit reads management information of a culture vessel selected from a plurality of culture vessels to be subjected to the task from the storage unit, and causes the display unit to display the management information.

  According to the cell culture device concerning one mode of this indication, when changing from manual culture to automatic culture, management information at the time of manual culture can be succeeded correctly to automatic culture.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a cell culture device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of management information attached to the upper surface of the culture vessel according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a storage state of the culture container in the incubator according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a container selection screen displayed on the display according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation example in the cell culture device according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component in each drawing, and those description may be abbreviate | omitted. In addition, each drawing schematically shows each component as a main component for easy understanding.

  First, the configuration of the cell culture device 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a cell culture device 100 according to an embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cell culture device 100 includes a storage unit 110, an imaging unit 111, a transport unit 112, an incubator unit 113, a storage unit 114, and a task setting unit 115. Hereinafter, each part will be described.

  The warehousing unit 110 is a place where the culture vessel 101 is arranged. Here, the culture container 101 is a plastic container such as a dish or a well plate. Cells are cultured in the culture vessel 101. The culture vessel 101 is manually placed in the storage unit 110.

  The imaging unit 111 (an example of a management information acquisition unit) images the appearance of the culture vessel 101 arranged in the warehousing unit 110. The timing of imaging is before the transport unit 112 transports the culture vessel 101 arranged in the warehousing unit 110 to the incubator unit 113. In addition, the appearance of the culture vessel 101 to be photographed shows management information of cells cultured in the culture vessel 101.

  Here, the management information will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of management information attached to the upper surface of the culture vessel 101 (see FIG. 1) according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the culture work is performed manually, management information to be managed in the culture process is indicated by handwriting or the like on the lid on the upper surface of the culture vessel 101 (see FIG. 1). For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the management information includes date information (“2015. 9.27” shown in FIG. 2), culture information (“Ando” shown in FIG. 2), Type information (“hiPS” shown in FIG. 2), cell line name information (“253G1” shown in FIG. 2), cell passage number information (“P18” shown in FIG. 2), coating of the culture vessel 101 Information on the type of agent (“Matrigel” shown in FIG. 2) and information on the type of medium (“E8” shown in FIG. 2) are included. Note that the information included in the management information is not limited to the information shown in FIG.

  The management information has been described above. Returning to the description of FIG.

  For example, the imaging unit 111 captures the appearance of the upper surface of the culture vessel 101 illustrated in FIG. 2 and stores the image (photograph) in the storage unit 114.

  The transport unit 112 transports the culture vessel 101 disposed in the storage unit 110 to the imaging unit 111, and transports the culture container 101 from the imaging unit 111 to the incubator unit 113 after photographing. In addition, the transport unit 112 transports the culture vessel 101 from the incubator unit 113 to a working unit (not shown) that sucks and discharges the culture solution in the culture vessel 101. Moreover, the conveyance part 112 conveys a chemical | medical solution from a refrigerator (not shown) to a heater part (not shown) with the pipette chip | tip mounted | worn. Moreover, the conveyance part 112 conveys a chemical | medical solution from a heater part to a working part. Moreover, the conveyance part 112 conveys a chemical | medical solution from a working part to a waste liquid part (not shown). As described above, the transport unit 112 transports the culture container 101, the chemical solution, the pipette chip, the tube for storing the chemical solution, and the like.

  The incubator unit 113 cultures the cells in the culture vessel 101 under a predetermined environment. In the incubator unit 113, the culture vessel 101 transported by the transport unit 112 is stored in a predetermined environment (for example, the CO2 concentration is 5% and the temperature is 37 degrees). Further, the storage position of the culture container 101 in the incubator unit 113 (where the culture container 101 is stored in the incubator unit 113) is managed by the cell culture apparatus 100 as follows.

  The management of the storage position of the culture vessel 101 in the incubator unit 113 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a storage state of the culture vessel 101 in the incubator unit 113 according to the embodiment.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, there are a plurality of storage positions partitioned in a cell shape inside the incubator unit 113. The culture vessel 101 (see FIG. 1) is stored one by one at each storage position. For example, for the culture container A shown in FIG. 3, storage position information indicating that the storage position of the culture container A is the second row in the third row is managed. The storage position information is stored in the storage unit 114 (see FIG. 1).

  In the storage unit 114, the storage position information is associated with an appearance image (management information image) of the culture vessel 101 photographed by the imaging unit 111 (see FIG. 1). In addition, the storage position information includes warehousing date / time information indicating the date / time when the culture vessel 101 was warehousing, operation information relating to the mechanical operation of the cell culture device 100 (for example, information indicating the discharge amount and discharge speed of the drug solution), and the implementation. Task information indicating a completed or scheduled task (details will be described later), a cell state image obtained by imaging the growth state of cells in culture, environmental information indicating the environment in the cell culture apparatus 100 (for example, temperature and humidity, cleanliness, etc.) Information), culture method information indicating a cell culture method, and the like. These pieces of information can be referred to as management information together with various types of information (see FIG. 2) included in the appearance image of the culture vessel 101. These pieces of information are appropriately read from the storage unit 114 by the task setting unit 115 (see FIG. 1) and displayed on a container selection screen described later.

  The storage position information described above is used for the transport operation of the culture vessel 101 by the transport unit 112 (see FIG. 1). For example, when the transport unit 112 takes out the culture container 101 in which a task is set from the incubator unit 113 and then transports the culture container 101 to the incubator unit 113 again, the culture container 101 is stored at the storage position indicated by the storage position information. Place. Thereby, the culture container 101 is preserve | saved in the same preservation | save position.

  The storage unit 114 stores an appearance image of the culture vessel 101 photographed by the imaging unit 111, storage location information, and information other than the management information included in the appearance image (for example, the warehousing date information and task information described above). Store it in association.

  The task setting unit 115 sets a scheduled task. The tasks include, for example, a medium replacement operation, a subculture operation, an observation operation, and a delivery operation.

  For example, the task setting unit 115 displays a task selection screen (not shown) showing a list of selectable tasks on the display 116 (an example of a display unit, see FIG. 1). In the example of FIG. 1, the display 116 is provided in the task setting unit 115, but may be provided outside the task setting unit 115 or outside the cell culture device 100.

  Then, when the user selects a desired task on the task selection screen, the task setting unit 115 reads out the various information described above from the storage unit 114 and causes the display 116 to display a container selection screen including the read information.

  Here, an example of the container selection screen will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a container selection screen displayed on the display 116 (see FIG. 1) according to the embodiment. The container selection screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, for example, when the user selects a shipping operation, but other tasks (for example, medium replacement operation, subculture operation, observation operation, etc.) are selected. A similar container selection screen is also displayed in the case of being performed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, container list information 200 and detailed information 201 are displayed on the container selection screen. The container list information 200 includes, for each culture container 101 (stored in the incubator unit 113 (see FIG. 1), see FIG. 1) that can be the object of the delivery operation, an administrator, the date and time of receipt, the name of the task that has been performed, Contains information such as the type of culture vessel. The detailed information 201 includes a storage position of the culture vessel 101 in the incubator unit 113, a comment input by the user at the time of warehousing, and an appearance image of the culture vessel 101 taken by the imaging unit 111 (see FIG. 1) at the time of warehousing (in FIG. Management information ”).

  For example, when the user performs an operation of selecting a desired culture vessel 101 from among the culture vessels 101 included in the vessel list information 200, detailed information 201 (storage position, comment, appearance image) about the selected culture vessel 101 is selected. ) Is displayed. The detailed information 201 is not limited to that shown in FIG.

  Therefore, the user can confirm the management information regarding the cultured cells in the culture container 101 from the appearance image of the culture container 101 when selecting the culture container 101. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce mistakes in selecting the culture vessel 101 at the time of task setting.

  Next, an operation example of the cell culture device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation example in the cell culture device 100 according to the embodiment. Specifically, it is a diagram illustrating a process in which the culture vessel 101 is stored in the cell culture device 100 and a task is performed on the culture vessel 101.

  First, the warehousing unit 110 detects that the culture vessel 101 is set in the warehousing unit 110 (step S101).

  Next, the transport unit 112 transports the set culture container 101 from the storage unit 110 to the imaging unit 111 (step S102).

  Next, the imaging unit 111 captures the appearance of the culture vessel 101 (part to which management information is attached), and stores the captured appearance image in the storage unit 114 (step S103).

  Next, the transport unit 112 transports the culture vessel 101 from the imaging unit 111 to a predetermined storage position of the incubator unit 113 (step S104).

  Next, the task setting unit 115 displays a container selection screen related to the selected task on the display 116 (step S105). Note that the task here is selected on the task selection screen displayed on the display 116 prior to the display of the container selection screen, as described above.

  Next, the task setting unit 115 displays an appearance image of the selected culture vessel 101 on the display 116 (step S106). This appearance image includes management information. In addition to the appearance image, the storage position of the culture vessel 101 and comments are also displayed on the display 116. The user determines the culture vessel 101 to perform the task with reference to these pieces of information displayed on the display 116.

  Next, the task setting unit 115 selects the appearance information of the selected culture vessel 101, the storage position information of the selected culture vessel 101, and the selected culture vessel for the task information indicating the selected scheduled task. Task information indicating the tasks already executed in 101 is associated and stored in the storage unit 114 (step S107).

  Then, after performing the selected task, the task setting unit 115 performs the cell culture device 100 in the task with respect to various types of information (for example, appearance image, storage position information, task information, etc.) associated in step S107. The operation information (information indicating the discharge amount, discharge speed, etc. of the chemical liquid) related to the operation performed by the machine elements (for example, the pump for sucking the chemical liquid) is associated and stored in the storage unit 114 (step S108). In addition, the information linked | related here is not limited to operation | movement information, You may include the warehousing date information mentioned above, environmental information, a cell state image, culture | cultivation method information, etc.

  As described above, the cell culture device 100 according to the present embodiment includes the incubator unit 113, the transport unit 112, the task setting unit 115, the imaging unit 111 that is a management information acquisition unit, and the storage unit 114. Prepare. The incubator unit 113 cultures cells in the culture vessel 101. The transport unit 112 transports the culture vessel 101 to the incubator unit 113. The task setting unit 115 sets a task related to cell culture. The imaging unit 111 that is a management information acquisition unit acquires management information attached to the culture vessel 101. The storage unit 114 stores management information acquired by the imaging unit 111 that is a management information acquisition unit. The task setting unit 115 reads the management information of the culture vessel 101 selected from the plurality of culture vessels 101 to be the task execution target from the storage unit 114 and causes the display 116 to display the management information.

  As a result, after the user selects a desired task, management information on the culture vessel 101 is displayed on the display 116 when selecting the culture vessel 101 for performing the task. Since the user can select the culture vessel 101 with reference to the management information, the selection error of the culture vessel 101 can be reduced. Therefore, when changing from manual culture to automatic culture, management information at the time of manual culture can be accurately transferred to automatic culture.

  Moreover, according to the cell culture apparatus 100 of this Embodiment, the imaging part 111 image | photographs the management information attached | subjected to the culture container 101, and the memory | storage part 114 memorize | stores the image by which management information was image | photographed, a task. The setting unit 115 displays an image on the display 116.

  Thereby, the user can confirm the management information attached | subjected to the culture container 101 more visually as an image. Therefore, the user can select the target culture apparatus 101 more easily.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the case of storing the appearance image of the culture vessel 101 photographed by the imaging unit 111 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, management information (for example, a culture person, a date, a cell line, a passage number, a coating material, a culture medium, a character recognition part (illustration omitted. An example of a management information acquisition part) performs character recognition processing with respect to an appearance image. Character information indicating an additive or the like) may be extracted, and the management information may be stored in the storage unit 114 in association with the appearance image. Thereby, the information amount regarding a task can be increased in step S108, and the traceability of the cell cultured by the cell culture apparatus after task execution can be improved. Note that the timing of the character recognition process is, for example, before the transport unit 112 transports the culture vessel 101 arranged in the warehousing unit 110 to the incubator unit 113.

  In the imaging unit 111, when the culture vessel 101 has a transparent lid, character recognition may be performed from a region excluding 50% of the area of the lid from the central portion. As a result, depending on the type of cell and the culture state, the written handwritten information may not be distinguished from the cell and may be difficult to distinguish. However, by limiting the recognition range, the cell culture is stable. Information.

  Further, management information extracted by character recognition (for example, at least one piece of information shown in FIG. 2) may be used as a search condition for the culture vessel 101 displayed on the vessel selection screen. For example, when the culture start date / time recognized as a character is used as a search condition, the culture vessels 101 corresponding to the management information including information on the culture start date / time can be narrowed down, and the narrowed culture vessels 101 are displayed on the vessel selection screen. can do. Thereby, the selection mistake of the culture container 101 by a user can further be reduced.

  Further, for example, in the embodiment, the case where the management information is indicated by handwriting or the like on the lid on the upper surface of the culture vessel 101 is taken as an example. However, an identification tag including the management information, for example, a barcode is used as the culture vessel 101. You may attach to the cover part etc. of the upper surface of. In this case, in the cell culture device 100, the bar code reader (not shown; an example of the management information acquisition unit) reads the bar code so that the management information (eg, cultivator, date, cell line, passage number, coating material, medium) , Character information indicating additives and the like) is extracted, and the management information is stored in the storage unit 114. The barcode reading timing is, for example, before the transport unit 112 transports the culture vessel 101 arranged in the storage unit 110 to the incubator unit 113. In this way, management information is displayed in text on the container selection screen instead of the appearance image. Thereby, the cell culture apparatus 100 can acquire management information more correctly. The management information included in the barcode is input manually, for example.

  In addition to the barcode, for example, a QR code (registered trademark, the same shall apply hereinafter) or an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip can be used as the identification tag. A reader or an IC reader can be used.

  In addition, when the user who uses the cell culture apparatus 100 is specified from the management information recognized by the imaging unit 111 and the culture vessel 101 is stored in the incubator unit 113, it may be stored for each user. As a result, the amount of the culture vessel 101 used for each user can be known, and the risk of using another user's culture vessel 101 can be reduced.

  When the culture vessel 101 is stored in the cell culture apparatus 100, a moving image in which the culture process up to the previous storage process is recorded may be stored in association with the management information. As a result, more information can be associated with the culture vessel 101, and traceability can be improved.

  The cell culture device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is useful in an area where treatment or examination using cells such as regenerative medicine or drug discovery is necessary.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Cell culture apparatus 101, A culture container 110 Storage part 111 Imaging part (management information acquisition part)
112 Conveying unit 113 Incubator unit 114 Storage unit 115 Task setting unit 116 Display (display unit)

Claims (6)

An incubator for culturing cells in a culture vessel with a transparent lid ;
A transport unit for transporting the culture vessel to the incubator unit;
A task setting unit for setting a task relating to the cell culture;
A management information acquisition unit for acquiring management information attached to the transparent lid of the culture vessel;
A storage unit for storing the management information acquired by the management information acquisition unit,
The management information acquisition unit photographs the management information attached to the transparent lid of the culture vessel, and removes 50% of the area of the transparent lid from an image of the management information photographed. Perform character recognition processing on the area to extract character information,
The storage unit stores the character information in association with the image,
The task setting unit
Reading the management information of the selected culture vessel from a plurality of culture vessels to be carried out subject to the task from the storage unit, Ru to display the management information on the display unit,
Cell culture device. The task setting unit narrows down the culture vessels to be selected based on the management information.
The cell culture device according to claim 1. The management information acquisition unit photographs the management information attached to the culture vessel,
The storage unit stores an image taken of the management information,
The task setting unit displays the image on the display unit.
The cell culture device according to claim 1. The culture container is provided with an identification tag containing the management information,
The management information acquisition unit reads the identification tag and extracts the management information.
The cell culture device according to claim 1. Identify the user using the cell culture device from the management information recognized by the management information acquisition unit, when storing the culture container in the incubator unit, store for each user,
The cell culture device according to claim 1. When storing the culture container in the cell culture device, save a moving image that records the culture process up to before the storage in association with the management information,
The cell culture device according to claim 1.

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